If you were hoping to run Android Auto in your 2017 Porsche 911, think again. Apparently, Google simply wants too much information for Porsche’s comfort.
A report from Motor Trend indicates that, in order to program Android Auto — Google’s version of its mobile OS for in-dash infotainment systems —for the iconic Porsche sports car, the German automaker would have to turn over a mountain of data. The information required ranges from vehicle speed, throttle position, oil and coolant temperature, and engine rpm, to name a few — every time the car is turned on.
For Porsche, this simply won’t do.
After all, Porsche builds some of the most precise motoring machines on the planet (at least, according to Porsche). Sharing this sort of data — even with a tech giant like Google that isreportedly not interested in becoming a carmaker — is akin to giving another company an in-depth look at how the magic is made. And Porsches are rife with German magic
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So, in response, Porsche simply declined to offer Android Auto in the 2017 911. Instead, it will only offer Apple CarPlay in addition to its standard infotainment system. In comparison to Google, Apple only requires data on whether the vehicle is in motion while the system is running, which is a mere pittance compared to Google’s laundry list of requirements.
It’s unclear why Google would want such information. My guess, though, is that Google is keen to become the OS for automakers, rather than just a skin over carmakers’ in-house infotainment software. With this mountain of data, Google could create apps tailored to car function, making your infotainment screen a virtual vehicle tuner. Or, at least, a new way to display vital vehicle data.
Date: October 6, 2015